Below these Carmel tips is a list of the vicinity’s first HER Helmet Thursdays spots—places that give Thursday discounts to people who help HER / Mother Earth by biking. Scroll to the end of this post to see a list of the first spots in Carmel / Carmel-by-the-Sea and Carmel Valley.

Share the Road, Share the Joy:

Pics and Tips for

Pedal-Pushing in Carmel

The majority of the tips below are about Carmel-by-the-Sea and mouth of the (Carmel) Valley. For your ease of referral, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Carmel / mouth of the Valley, Carmel Valley, and Carmel Valley VillageHER Helmet Thursdays spotsare all highlighted at the end of this web page. Note that most longtime locals mean Carmel Valley Village when they refer to “The Village” (most would not use that term in reference to Carmel-by-the-Sea).

Biking downtown Carmel in the early morning means you’ll beat the traffic and can more easily get oriented to the town. Stop in for a java boost or other nourishment at Carmel Coffee, or have breakfast at Carmel Belle or another extra bike-friendly spot.

Biking to the beach, including to Carmel River Beach, means easy parking even when it’s a busy weekend. Carmel Beach, easily located at the foot of Ocean Avenue, is a popular destination. From there, biking Scenic Drive to Carmel River Beach is a favorite ride for coastal views. See photos below. (As mentioned in Signs of a Bicycling Friendly Monterey County, plans are underway to make more room on Scenic for bicycling. The county plans to make Scenic Road from just south of Martin Way to Carmel River State Beach one way.)

Scenic has no bike lanes and isn’t recommended for young children biking on their own two wheels. But little ones do bike in Carmel; there are quiet streets where they can practice their bike skills, with supervision. Check out these little Carmel cyclists.

Mouth-of-the-valley: The Class I (off-road) bike path between Carmel Valley Road and Rio Road is helpful to touring cyclists and local bike commuters alike. And for travelers who brought bikes–or rent them–this mouth-of-the-valley bike path also makes a handy stop where children weary of being in the car can get out and safely show off their bike skills. (Of course, the same is true for local kids who’ve grown tired of accompanying their parents around on errands–and are begging for a fun reprieve!)

Mouth-of-the-valley: Near the Class I mouth-of-the-valley path are plenty of restaurants, a health food store (Cornucopia), bookstores, and supermarkets, as well as a variety of retail shops and other businesses. There are picnic tables along the bike path too (see below).

If you’re heading out Carmel Valley, the new South Bank Trail is a 1.5 mile Class I bike path along the Carmel River, another excellent choice for a bike outing with children.

Are you an avid cyclist biking all the way to Carmel Valley Village? Here’s a special HER Helmet Thursdays tip: The Spa at Bernardus Lodge (near Laureles Grade) gives their HHT discount seven days a week! (And there are great HHT spots for lodging and dining en route to and in Carmel Valley Village too. Look for the CV addresses in the listings!)

The streets of Carmel-by-the-Sea quiet down again in the evening. Biking in the dark has its own special pleasures. Wear some high-visibility apparel, charge up your bike lights, and enjoy another ride in the downtown area–where it’s especially fun to window shop the art galleries at night. Be sure to have a detachable light when you lock up your bike to safely walk about too, because part of Carmel’s charm is the absence of typical city streetlights.

Are you a touring cyclist with pricey gear attached to your bike that’s a hassle to unload? Don’t hesitate to stop and dine or have drinks in Carmel. There are many Carmel participants in HER Helmet Thursdays, and these include spots like Carmel Belle and PortaBella with outdoor seating options that make it especially to keep an eye on a pricey bike.

Wondering about Point Lobos? You are welcome to bike the roads, then hike the trails.

Wanting to try someplace new? “Best New Restaurant of Monterey County for 2013,” as voted by Monterey County Weekly readers, is nestled in Carmel on Junipero between 5th and 6th: HER Helmet Thursdays participant la Balena.

just off Highway 1 between Carmel Valley Road & Rio Road.

Hungry, and want to eat out-of-doors today?

Another option for picnicking is take-out from HER Helmet Thursdays spots in the neighboring Barnyard Shopping Village, Carmel Rancho, and the Crossroads. These popular nearby eateries include Allegro Gourmet Pizzeria, Bagel Bakery, From Scratch, Hola by the Sea, Island Taco, r. g. Burgers, and the Rio Grill. Details on all are in the HER Helmet Thursdays listings.

r.g. Burgers and Island Taco are at the Crossroads

Biking Carmel Highlands

Point Lobos view from Carmel River Beach

On Scenic, heading from Carmel River Beach to Carmel Beach.

Visitor’s perspective on cycling Monterey to Carmel and back

I often tell visitors who ask “Why bike?” that bicycling really is the best way to see this area. Don’t just take my word for it though.

“Cycling is the best way to see Monterey and Carmel,” Jody Brooks reports, writing on June 8, 2010 of the tour he and his wife had just enjoyed. Check out Jody’s report, “Cycling Monterey to Carmel and Back,” published on the Plan Bike website.

Carmel–A Dog-Lovers’ Haven

Among winners of “Best Restaurant in Carmel” as voted by Monterey County Weekly readers, is HER Helmet Thursdays spot Grasing’s. And true to the preference of many Carmel residents–and visitors, on sunny days, you can enjoy dinner outdoors on the pet-friendly patio.

Dog-friendly and bike-friendly: HER Helmet Thursdays spots in Lanee Lee’s story include:

There are hundreds of places that give discounts to local and visiting cyclists on Thursdays, year-round, in Carmel and throughout Monterey County. Check out all these extra bike-friendly hotels, educational and entertainment venues, restaurants, wineries, and more: See the HER Helmet Thursdays listings.

Marilynch,
As a regular visitor to Pacific Grove since 1963 I can attest that there is no finer way to see the peninsula than by bike. You have captured the essence of how and why cycling is so enjoyable for both transportation and recreation. Thanks for providing your site.
Rob

About Bicycling Monterey

In 2009, to encourage biking and other earth-friendly actions, Bicycling Monterey was founded by volunteer Mari Lynch. Curious why the root URL for most posts and pages is marilynch.com/blog? Click here. >

Bicycling Monterey is an award-winning grassroots effort, and successes are due to the involvement of many people. Click here to see who's helped. >